Posts Tagged ‘Dallas Cowboys’

Preview: Eagles seek to throttle Titans

Sunday, November 23rd, 2014

by Brandyn Campbell

Brandyn Blog

 

 

 

 

Titans

After the beating the Philadelphia Eagles received from the Green Bay Packers last Sunday, the Titans are the sort of opponent the Birds hoped to see. It’s no secret that 2-8 Tennessee isn’t a very good team. 7-3 Philadelphia should beat them handily. They need to get another win in the books to fully shake off what happened in Green Bay, and then focus all attention on their next task: Beating the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day. 

But there is another game to be played between now and then. Offensively, there is no comparison between the teams. The Eagles average 406.8 yards per game, fourth best in the league, while the Titans put up almost 100 yards less with 309 per game. There’s only one team in the league worse than that, and it’s the Oakland Raiders. Tennessee puts up just 16.8 points per game, as opposed to the Eagles’ 29.9 points.

The Eagles will face Zach Mettenberger, the Titans’ third signal caller this season. The rookie is completing almost 62% of his passes and has 5 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. The most targeted receiver on the squad is Kendall Wright, who has 43 catches for 473 yards. However, tight end Delanie Walker tops Tennessee with 512 receiving yards. The likes of Connor Barwin and Vinny Curry will bring the pass rush, which should be too much for Mettenberger and the Tennessee offense to bear.

In the running game, rookie Bishop Sankey is the go-to man. Though averaging just 3.5 YPC, he’s rushed for least 50 yards on the ground in four of their last five games. Bennie Logan, Fletcher Cox and Cedric Thornton will continue to be strong defenders against the ground attack.

Defensively, the matchup is far more comparable between the teams, much to Philadelphia’s chagrin. Tennessee is ranked 21st in the league overall, allowing 370 yards by opponents, while the Eagles have an even worse 26th defense overall, allowing 378 yards each game.  The Titans are decent against the passing attack, ranked 9th in the league. And that’s not just on paper: Tennessee can and will bring the pressure, so Sanchez must adjust accordingly.

In the ground attack, the only team with a run defense worse than the Titans are the Giants (ha!). Much of the season has been filled with statements like, “the Eagles have got to get LeSean McCoy going. This team isn’t very good against the run, surely he’ll gain traction.” And yet, it rarely happens. Shady said this week that, “ I feel like we’re almost there.” Well,  if you are, then a fine time to debut the fully completed feat would be against the 31st run defense in the league. Currently averaging a meager 3.7 YPC, no one knows better than McCoy that he is long overdue for a breakout performance.

The Eagles should handily come out the victors in this contest, unless, of course, they beat themselves. Which they’ve come close to doing far too many times this season. Philadelphia is currently in sole possession of a title that no one wants – they lead the league in giveaways with 25. The number for the entire 2013 season was 19. The Birds must stop giving away the ball in order to have the best chance to win.

Tennessee comes to Philadelphia facing a home team eager to put the humiliation of a game gone awry out of the minds and memories of the itself and its fans. They want momentum heading into their huge contest with the Cowboys on Thanksgiving, and they want to show that they can fire on all cylinders even with injuries taking their toll. Prediction: Eagles 34, Titans 20

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Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

Philadelphia Eagles flying high after total shutout of New York Giants

Monday, October 13th, 2014

by Brandyn Campbell

Brandyn Blog

 

 

 

 

BSThe Philadelphia Eagles head into their bye week flying on the highest note possible: On the heels of total shutout of those New York football Giants 27-0. 27-zip. 27-to-nada.

However you say it, the score is beautiful.

This is the game when LeSean McCoy finally got going, notching 149 rushing yards. The tight ends got into the act, with Zach Ertz and James Casey both getting in the endzone. Nick Foles finished the game with 21 for 34 with 248 yards for 2 touchdowns, but also threw two interceptions.

The Eagles defense showed up big time, completely stifling an offense that had averaged 35 points its last few games. But the streaking Giants simply had no answers for the Eagles, who got eight sacks (6 on Eli Manning and 2 on backup Ryan Nassib), limiting the two-time Super Bowl MVP to 13 for 23, 154 yards for exactly 0 touchdowns.

Connor Barwin was an absolute beast, getting to Manning for three sacks. Vinny Curry had a blast getting to the quarterback and sacking the Giants’ QB twice. Brandon Graham, Trent Cole and Brandon Blair also got into the each, notching a sack each.  Much as the New York media wanting to claim dismay at the portrayal of “Lil Eli Manning” in the Eagles cartoons, that’s exactly what he looked like on the field Sunday night.

It’s the first shutout for the Birds since 1996, and the first at Lincoln Financial Field.  Oh, the previous shutout, which took place in December of ’96. Against the Giants. In that game the Eagles won 24-0.

Darren Sproles, who added to the team’s touchdowns on Sunday night, left the game in the fourth quarter with a knee injury. We’ll wait for news and hope that everything is okay with the most dynamic Eagles player this season.

It was the most complete win the Eagles have put together all season. The victory becomes all the more important as the Dallas Cowboys improved to 5 -1 earlier in the day, beating the Seattle Seahawks. Philadelphia retains its lead in the NFC East and has shown just how good–and dangerous–they can look when everyone is on their game. It’s a wonderful sight to behold for Eagles fans, and something that hopefully makes their next several opponents very nervous as they study the Birds’ Week 6 game film.

Cary Williams is a talker, but his line following the game was great:

“Who said we were a soft 4-1? We’re 5-1 now. Is that soft, too?”

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Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

NFL Preseason Mash Ups: NFC East Personas

Thursday, August 7th, 2014

by WingFan

Wingfan

 

 

 

 

Teams have personality.  Between the owner, the coach, the players, and the fans, a team develops certain behaviors.  As we approach the official beginning of the NFL season, WingFan would like to countdown to kickoff by walking you through each team and our assessment of their persona.  Let’s forget about draft picks, free agents, and statistics for a moment and just focus on each division, each team, and each personality.  Imagine Wendy Williams, Jay-Z, Hulk Hogan and Pam Anderson sitting down to dinner together – what a show right?  Well, that’s the NFC East right now.  Let’s take a look at what each team brings to the table:

 

Team: Philadelphia Eagles

Persona: Wendy Williams

WWWith no Super Bowl titles to speak of, the Eagles still manage to have one of the biggest personalities in the league, much like Wendy Williams, who has one of the biggest personalities in entertainment.  No Super Bowl wins doesn’t mean “no championships.”  The Eagles have actually won 3 NFL championships prior to the Super Bowl era.  Wendy Williams has never won an Oscar either, but she was named to the Radio Hall of Fame.  Radio – you know the media that existed before the television era?

The similarities continue.  The ex-shock jock’s most infamous moment was an interview with Whitney Houston where she hammered Houston on questions of drug use; ruthlessly digging into Whitney’s emotional wounds on-air.  Now, would you believe that the Philadelphia Eagles fans hammered Santa Clause with snow balls and booed him at the halftime of a December game in 1968?  Ruthless is, as ruthless does.  Williams actually broadcast her radio shows out of Philly’s own Power 99 FM – a station she helped take from #14 in local ratings to #2 during her time there.  Coincidentally, during the 2000s, former head coach Andy Reid took the Eagles all the way to the Super Bowl where they lost the big game and finished the season as the #2 team in the league.  The key to staying relevant for the Eagles and Williams seems to be their willingness to speak to the public about private matters.  Stories about Terrell Owens, Michael Vick, and Riley Cooper have littered the headlines in Philadelphia for almost a decade.  Williams shared stories on-air about her drug use, her breast implants, and even her miscarriages.

Recent years have been more about transformation for both Williams and the Eagles.  The Eagles are now the slimmed down version of Wendy Williams with the extra long weave.  New head coach, Chip Kelly, gave the Eagles offense a makeover last year, and drafted leaner players who have more speed and endurance than your average NFL athletes.  With the liposuction and new look, the Eagles surprised critics last year by winning the NFC East and making it to the playoffs.  Perhaps, this year, they will follow Wendy’s recent big screen appearances with some big game appearances of their own.

 

Team: Dallas Cowboys

Persona: Hulk Hogan

HHThe Dallas Cowboys are often dubbed “America’s Team” and Hulk Hogan used to enter the ring to a song titled “I am a Real American”.  These two deserve each other.  For decades these two entities have both entertained the American public.  The Cowboys won two Super Bowls in the 70’s and established a dynasty by winning three Super Bowls in the 90’s. Hogan carried professional wrestling from the late 70’s, through the 80’s, and into the late 90’s.  Around 1997, the two entities managed to fly off into obscurity, only to be revived every now and then by reality TV and good marketing.

Hogan made a comeback in the new millennium when he landed a reality show called “Hogan Knows Best”.  Meanwhile, the Cowboys became a featured team on HBO’s new reality show “Hard Knocks.”  The publicity kept them both relevant, even though they were still living in their pasts.  Each received the benefit of the doubt from media outlets, while their fans blindly routed for their success and celebrated their celebrity.  Recently, both have managed to let their status go to to their heads – literally and figuratively – as infidelity and scandal abound.

Hogan’s wife divorced him after she found out the Hulk was sleeping with his daughter’s BFF; while photos recently surfaced of Cowboys owner, Jerry Jones, posing provocatively with younger woman.  In the wake of the NFL’s lenient two-game punishment for Ray Rice who hit his wife, Jones’ behavior isn’t exactly the kind of leadership the NFL might want on display.  In the coming weeks, we will see how things turn out for Jerry Jones, but one thing is clear, this is American Beauty.

 

Team: New York Giants                               

Persona: Jay-Z

JZYou might think this mash-up lacks creativity because New York is Jay-Z’s hometown, but that’s more of the icing than the cake.  The Giants are known for not just winning, but winning with a little bit of magic – some would call it luck.  Both the Giants and Jay-Z have legitimate titles on their resume: the Giants’ first Super Bowl win in 1986 was a 39-20 thrashing of the Denver Broncos, and Jay-Z’s debut album, “Reasonable Doubt”, is an undisputed hip-hop classic that most fans only started to appreciate years after it was released.

The Giants second, third, and fourth titles required some magic: a field goal miss from Buffalo’s Scott Norwood, a clutch catch off of David Tyree’s helmet on 4th down, and a perfectly placed Eli Manning pass to Mario Manningham with virtually no time left.  Jay-Z’s career has all of that: becoming one of the only links to Notorious BIG after his untimely passing, becoming the focal point in hip-hop’s “beef” era (an era where artists challenged each other song for song), and of course, becoming Beyonce’s fiancé (and husband) really didn’t hurt.  Some might call these occurrences “luck”.  But if you ask the Giants and Jay-Z, they’d say you “Can’t Knock the Hustle.”

 

Team: Washington Football Team

Persona: Pamela Anderson

PANo…this combination has nothing to do with a sex tape, but, then again, you never know what’s coming out of Washington these days.  With all due respect, the Washington Football Team won three Super Bowls – two in the 80’s and one in the 90’s.  Let’s call these the “Baywatch Days”.  The Washington Football Team were as pretty as Pamela Anderson bouncing down the beach in a little red bathing suit – they were all put together. Things started to change once Pam left Baywatch and the same thing happened in Washington when ownership changed from Jack Kent Cooke to Daniel Snyder.

Celebrity and branding became a larger part of the picture when both Pam and Dan started to tinker with their already established products.  Dan moved the team to the suburbs, while Pam moved from TV to movies.  Then the face lifts and plastic surgery ramped up for Pam and Dan.  Dan brought in celebrity coach after celebrity coach, celebrity athlete after celebrity athlete, and a carousel of quarterbacks that might finally stop with RGIII.  Same thing happened to Pam – her chest got more and more inflated, her face got more and more distorted, and her hair got more and more blonde.

Washington has only been to the playoffs four times in 22 years; and no one has featured Pam Anderson on the silver screen since Barb Wire (appearances aside).  It’s almost comedic. Washington just signed their 8th new head coach since the year 2000 and Robert Griffin (RGIII) is their 15th quarterback in the same time period.  If there were a team that deserved to sit in the hot seat and get roasted like Pam Anderson, it would be the Washington Football Team.  Their current name is a joke in and of itself.

 

UP NEXT:  AFC East Personas

 

WingFan, for War Room Sports

Football: The Passion of the Fans

Monday, July 28th, 2014

by Joe Davis

Joe davis

 

 

 

 

(Image via ethnicsalarms.com)

(Image via ethnicsalarms.com)

It’s that time of year again, where optimism rings through this country from end to end. Whether it’s Washington DC or Washington State, Boston to Los Angeles, football fans believe that THIS is the year that their team will win it all. From little league to the NFL, you won’t find a fan that thinks that their team has no chance to Win a championship. This is why football is America’s game. In the NFL the new draft pick or free agent signing gives a team that finished in last place a feeling of hope. In college that new recruiting class or spring practice has the university believing that a conference championship is within grasp. Even at the high school level, the 15 year old kid that had a 6 inch growth spurt has the school with state championship dreams.

So how realistic are your teams’ chances in winning the ultimate prize? 3% chance if you are talking the NFL. 0.8% chance of winning the national championship. On lower levels the odds are even greater, where there may be over 2,000 schools in a state, all competing for a state title. And that’s what makes it great. Even with these amazing odds, we still believe that our team will win the championship THIS year (Full disclosure; I am a Dallas Cowboys fan and I still believe that if everything breaks right, we can win it all). The passion that we as football fans show for our sport is awesome.  Now I’m not here to compare with other sports (partly because it’s not even close); just to uplift my sport. From programs that are perennial contenders to that dark horse that has never been in a championship game, the passion is the same. THIS IS OUR YEAR. WE ARE GOING TO BEAT OUR RIVALS. WE WILL WIN IT ALL.

So as training camps continue to open in the next couple of weeks, our optimism may begin to fade. This dude has a season ending injury. This guy hasn’t progressed as much as we would like. Why isn’t the newer player as good as he was hyped? Many dreams will get crushed. Some will be delayed. And a few will be sidetracked. It makes the ultimate prize that much greater when we finally reach it. Enjoy your teams’ season for all of the ups and downs that are sure to follow.

 

Joe Davis of Sideline to Sideline, for War Room Sports

Victory Monday for the Philadelphia Eagles

Monday, December 30th, 2013

by Brandyn Campbell

Brandyn Blog

 

 

 

 

Eagles 2013 NFC East Champs

 

This time last year, Andy Reid was a victim of Black Monday in the NFL and the Eagles’ future was entirely uncertain. Fast forward twelve months later, and under head coach Chip Kelly the Birds went 10-6 in their season and are the NFC East Champions.

That’s right. We are the champions.

In their final regular season game in Dallas on Sunday, the Eagles did not play their finest football. The offense was stalled, Nick Foles was all too often without protection and there were some head-scratching play calls. The defense kept the team in play all the way to the very end, when Brandon Boykin’s interception of Kyle Orton sealed the Eagles’ victory.

It was a stressful game. Many of us thought we’d experience heart failure before it was all over. But they did it. Not only did Philadelphia win the NFC East title, they did it by beating Dallas in Dallas. It’s a beautiful thing.

The Birds will face the New Orleans Saints at the Linc on Saturday. They have 24 hours to celebrate Sunday night’s win, and then it’s time to prepare for a New Orleans teams that won’t be easy to beat. The Eagles’ pass rush struggled against Orton. If they do the same against Drew Brees, there won’t be a chance.

But we have all of the coming week to consider what Philadelphia needs to do to beat the Saints. For now, enjoy the fact that the division has been won…and that it was done by beating Dallas.

Happy Victory Monday to you all.

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Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

It’s official: Foles it is

Wednesday, November 27th, 2013

by Brandyn Campbell

Brandyn Blog

Nick Foles is the starter for the Eagles (Image via PhiladelphiaEagles.com) Nick Foles is the starter for the Eagles
(Image via PhiladelphiaEagles.com)

It’s hardly a surprise at this stage. It was just a matter of time until it was announced.

After Nick Foles’ historic 7-touchdown performance in Oakland in Week 9, you knew that the Philadelphia Eagles could not return to Mike Vick as their starting quarterback. Foles was simply playing too well. You had to have him play for the rest of the season to see more of what he could do.

The subject was danced around each week following that early November thrill-ride, but on Tuesday Chip Kelly made it official: Nick Foles was the Eagles’ starting quarterback for the remainder of the season. Kelly wanted the matter settled once and for all so that Foles didn’t have to “look over his shoulder” for the rest of the season. This move was done to ensure that Foles’ focus is where it needs to be: Winning games for the Eagles.

Said Kelly of the decision,

“I said the other day, I think he’s done a great job of protecting the football and not putting us in bad situations.  When we have a shot and can take it down the field, he’s proven he can do that.  He’s got a great command of what we’re doing.  He’s a lot more comfortable in what we’re doing.  So it’s just kind of an ongoing process for him.”

The Birds come off of their bye with a winning record and in the heat of battle with the Cowboys for the top spot in the division. For a team that had little expectations at the beginning of the year other than that of a rebuilding squad, they suddenly find themselves in the playoff hunt.

Vick will be the team’s number two and Kelly says that the former starter is okay with that designation. He knew that Foles would be tough to unseat. What no one knows now, however, is what the future holds for Vick’s NFL career.

While sentiments are soaring for the moment with Foles, he must stand the test of the final month of the season and all of the stress, injuries, and playoff hopes this time of year brings. He has surprised us all with his poise under pressure so far this season. If he can continue his astonishing string of performances this month, the Eagles will find themselves in an interesting position when evaluating where they sit with finding the future QB of the franchise.

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Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

The Eagles’ quarterback quandry

Monday, October 21st, 2013

by Brandyn Campbell

Brandyn Blog

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday was not Nick Foles’ day.  (Photo via the Philadelphia Eagles)

Sunday was not Nick Foles’ day.
(Photo via the Philadelphia Eagles)

Whatever Nick Foles had for breakfast on Sunday, he shouldn’t plan to have ever again on a game day.

In the absence of any other explanation for his awful performance at the Linc against the Cowboys, let’s just go ahead and blame  it on the Wheaties. Foles wasn’t available following the game to discuss what went wrong—he left the game in the third quarter due to a head injury. Chip Kelly couldn’t explain it either, but rather than laying the blame for scoring only three points in the game only at Foles, he pointed the finger at the entire offense.

The real pity of the offense’s failings was a strong showing by the defense, who held the Cowboys to just 17 points and grabbed two interceptions from Tony Romo. With a little help in the way of points on the scoreboard, the Eagles could have won this game. Or at least been in it. But that was not the way it was to be.

Foles’ numbers were as strikingly bad this week as they were good last week.  11-for-29 for 80 yards, averaging just 2.8 yards per attempt. Ouch. In fact, when Kelly was asked how the young quarterback could go from the NFC’s offensive player of the week to disaster in seven days, he didn’t have an answer. In fact, that was his actual response. “ I don’t have an answer for it.”

With Vick inactive for the game, when Foles left  it was rookie Matt Barkley’s time to make his NFL debut. It’s probably one to forget, but we all get it—he’s a rookie. The former USC quarterback made his best throws, unfortunately, to the Cowboys, finishing the day 11/20 for 129 yards and three interceptions.

Foles’ performance should put an end to the QB controversy of the past two weeks. But the Eagles face a bigger problem in determining what viable option they have if both their starter and backup fail to return to health for next Sunday’s game against the Giants.

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Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

Watch: Larry Allen humors the crowd with his Hall of Fame speech

Tuesday, August 6th, 2013

by LeRoy McConnell III

Leroy Blog

 

 

 

 

 

(Image via Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

(Image via Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

After watching longtime Dallas Cowboy, Larry Allen get inducted into the Football Hall of Fame Saturday Night, my first thought was, “is he really going to talk?” I’ve watched this massive human being anchor the offensive line since the time he stepped on the gridiron in 1994. Throughout his career I have never heard the man talk. This is the same individual who was walking to the Cowboys’ players parking lot many years ago with teammate, Terry Glenn and I just had to see what kind of vehicle he drove. I’m thinking it has to be some sort of SUV or a gigantic luxury vehicle. Well, it wasn’t a surprise to see Mr. Glenn get into a black Lamborghini. Glenn, a former wideout has a small frame that suits a fast, exotic car. As Terry got into his vehicle, Mr. Allen walked past Terry’s car to get into his black Lamborghini! I’m thinking WTF? Get out of here! How is this BIG MAN going to get into this itty bitty car? Just like Terry did, he got into his car and drove off.

Click here to read the rest of this story and watch videos of Larry Allen’s HOF induction speech and his 700 lb bench press.

 

LeRoy McConnell III of A Fan’s Point of View, for War Room Sports

Philadelphia Eagles 2013 regular season schedule features Monday Night Opener against the Redskins, return of Andy Reid

Monday, April 22nd, 2013

by Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

 

The Philadelphia Eagles 2013 schedule.
(Image via the Eagles’ Facebook page)

 

We’re in the heart of the long, cold, lonely offseason but there are signs that the light that is professional football will one day return.  That light on Thursday night came in the form of the release of the Philadelphia Eagles’ 2013 schedule.

The first helping of regular season Eagles football will come on September 9 via a Monday Night matchup against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field.  That will be one of only two primetime games for the Birds, which is a marked decrease from recent seasons.

The Eagles will have an intense opening to their schedule, featuring three games in the first ten days.  That stretch will be highlighted by a huge game: Andy Reid’s return to the Linc with the Kansas City Chiefs on September 19.  How “Big Red” is greeted upon his big return to his former home will surely be the major storyline of that game.

Other highlights include a matchup with the Denver Broncos in the Mile High City on September 29 and versus Aaron Rodgers at the Green Bay Packers on November 10.

The team has a late Week 12 bye, the latest since 2000 when Philadelphia’s bye week feel on Week 16.

NFC East action continues after the opener on October 10 against the Cowboys at the Linc, with the regular season ending at Dallas on December 29.

Ready to make your predictions?  I’ve seen some out there.  But for now, here’s the full schedule for your perusal:

How much longer until September 9?  Oh wait.  Nevermind.

Want more Philly Sports Muse? You can find me on Twitter at @sports_muse and on Facebook.

 

Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

Philadelphia Eagles Add Another Piece to New Defense with DE Clifton Geathers

Friday, March 29th, 2013

by Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

 

The Philadelphia Eagles continued to make moves to shore up their new defense by acquiring DE Clifton Geathers  from the Colts on Thursday in a trade, giving up fullback Stanley Havili.

Geathers’ (6-7, 325) collegiate career

Clifton Geathers

was spent at the University of South Carolina, where he played in 36 games and finished with 72 tackles, 12 tackles for a loss, 6 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles.  He was a sixth-round draft pick of the Cleveland Browns in 2010.  Since that time, he has spent time in the NFL with Cleveland, Miami, Seattle, Dallas and Indy.  The 25-year old Geathers has appeared in 15 total games during his three years of playing professional football.  He played in eight games for Indianapolis in 2012, recording five tackles and a sack.  Geathers will bring his run-stopping skills to Philadelphia’s new 3-4 defensive front.

Havili is in his second year in the NFL.  With Philadelphia acquiring fullback/tight end James Casey and retaining Emil Igwenagu, the Birds have  options to fill the fullback role typically featured in head coach Chip Kelly’s offenses.

Tapp moves South

DE Daryl Tapp, a member of the Philadelphia Eagles for the past three years, is now a member of the NFC East rival Washington Redskins.  Tapp signed a one-year deal with the team.  Prior to his time with the Eagles, Tapp spent four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks.  Tapp played in 13 games for the Eagles in 2012, accumulating 17 tackles in 257 snaps.

Want more Philly Sports Muse? You can find me on Twitter at @sports_muse and on Facebook.

 

Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports